Another successful year at the GAI Education Awards

Published: 15 November, 2016

The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) has recognised the educational achievements of the door hardware industry at its annual Education Awards.

Along with almost 400 guests, the Guild celebrated the hardware professionals who have achieved a GAI qualification this year. Of the 90 learners who attained the Certificate in Architectural Hardware and the 42 students who completed the full GAI Diploma, six also received awards at the prestigious ceremony.

Since 1980, the GAI Education Awards have included Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for each qualification and the Pinnacle Award sponsored by ASSA ABLOY, which is given to the student with the best aggregate results over the three years of the Diploma programme.

Neil Vann, market regional manager for ASSA ABLOY, presented this year’s Pinnacle Award (which is given to the student with the best aggregate results over the three years of the Diploma programme) to Sreejith Ramanathan, who has worked for three years as a project specifier, handling hardware specifications for various projects in the Middle East and North Africa.

Maria Powell, president of the GAI, said: “The Education Awards are our greatest testament to the passion we have for our industry and to our international community of architectural ironmongery. It showcases our constant pursuit of learning and the maintenance of professional qualifications.”

Guests also celebrated the growing success of the GAI education programme; enrolments for 2015/16 saw a 23% increase from the previous year.

The Timbmet Group has had a second consecutive year of improving both its gross and net profitability and stabilising revenues. To build on the secure business platform now in place, Timbmet is planning for further growth.